Don’t let fears stop necessary technology reform in L.A. schools Commentary: The LA Unified School District has been lauded — and scrutinized — for its trailblazing efforts to reform teacher evaluation and include student achievement in hiring and firing decisions. But the $1 billion push to provide every student and teacher with an iPad may be...

With the filing deadline tomorrow, a new candidate has emerged to challenge Warren Fletcher as president of UTLA. Kevin Mottus, who frequently appears at LA Unified school board meetings to warn of adverse health effects of wireless digital devices, is the latest among three challengers to file for running, according to the union’s most recent...

LAUSD could lose up to $200 million if families don’t submit paperwork Facing the potential loss of up to $200 million in state money to help educate impoverished students, Los Angeles Unified is scrambling to comply with new state rules requiring financial verification for every low-income pupil. LA Daily News LA Unified board member Bennett...

Friction between LA Unified and the state escalated today as Superintendent John Deasy lashed out against a new state rule that requires low-income parents to verify their economic status to insure that their children remain eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. The state is asserting that failure to provide the proof on an annual basis...

LA Unified is getting another Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor, thanks to a $250,000 grant from Partners in Progress, a new collaboration between Citi Foundation and the Low Income Investment Fund. The money comes to the district from the Youth Policy Institute, one of 13 organizations around the country that won a Partners in Progress...

Via The Washington Post | By Lyndsey Layton Scores in math, reading and science posted by 15-year-olds in the United States were flat while their counterparts elsewhere — particularly in Shanghai, Singapore and other Asian provinces or countries — soared ahead, according to results of a well-regarded international exam released Tuesday. While U.S. teenagers scored...

Parent involvement at L.A. schools getting new look In Cudahy, parents collected more than 600 signatures demanding a new principal. In Culver City, they fought attempts to unionize classroom aides and formed a group that elected a school board majority. In Los Angeles, parents are organizing for more effective school disciplinary practices. LA Times Schools promoting...

A new state rule asking school districts to verify students eligible for the Free and Reduced Price Meal program is causing alarm within LA Unified, which must document the status of more than 138,000 students or risk losing $200 million in state funding. The rule affects students at nearly 400 high-poverty campuses, all of whom...